First Look at Hoka One One Spikes

"Maximalist" shoe brand sponsors a few track elites.

When it was announced earlier this year that Hoka One One would start sponsoring some elite track runners, the most obvious question was: What will the pros race in?

After all, Hoka's claim to fame has been its megacushioned training shoes; the brand is credited with launching the "maximalist" movement that brands such as Altra and Brooks are also now catering to. But world-class runners race on the track in shoes that are often little more than slippers with a spike plate attached.

Hoka has posted a few photos of its leading track runner, Olympic 1500-meter silver medalist Leo Manzano, wearing the brand's first spikes. As you can see below, the spikes Manzano is wearing look to be conventional middle-distance models. While this is no doubt good for Manzano's miling, we will admit we were looking forward to spikes with massive midsoles.